CFP: Children, Childhood, and Popular Culture

The Children and Childhood Studies Area of the Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association invites you to participate in the 25th annual MAPACA conference. Papers in this area examine the impact of popular culture on children and childhood, as well as the role of children and young adults as influencers and creators of popular and American culture.

We are open to papers and presentations regarding any topic at the convergence of Popular Culture and American Childhood. In addition, in recognition of MAPACA's 25 anniversary in 2014, we'd love to have papers or other presentations that deal with the concept of "anniversaries" or "25" in relation to children and popular culture. These might include birthdays, aging or growing, "25 as the new 18," contemplations on children's pop culture over the past 25 years, thoughts on the academic field of the past 25 years, major anniversaries in children's pop culture (child star birthdays, anniversaries of notable films, TV shows or toys…)

We will also be curating an online collection and pre-conference online discussion titled "American Childhood in 25 Artifacts." Keep an eye out for a separate Call for Contributions to this collection coming soon.

Single papers, panels, roundtables, and alternative formats are welcome. Proposals should take the form of 300-word abstracts. The deadline for submission is June 14, 2014. This year's conference will be in Baltimore, MD, Nov. 6-8, 2014. For the complete call as well info on how to submit a proposal, please see http://mapaca.net/. Please direct any questions about the Children and Childhood Studies area to area co-chairs Patrick Cox (ptcox@camden.rutgers.edu) or Brandi J. Venable (brandijvenable@gmail.com).

MAPACA welcomes proposals on all aspects of popular and American Culture. For a list of MAPACA's other areas and area chair contact information, visit Subject Areas http://mapaca.net/areas/. General questions can be directed to mapaca@mapaca.net.

Thanks, and see you at the Harbor!

Patrick Cox and Brandi J. Venable Area Co-Chairs, Children and Childhood Studies Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association